Luminous attachment



0. H. VAN AMBERG.

LUMINOUS ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION nun IIAY 21. mo.

1 ,3 1 6,985 Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Fig. I;

Inventor Otto H.Van aimb'erg,

His JIttorneg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. VAN AMBERG, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LUMINOU S ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 27, 1918. Serial No.'236,710.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO H. VAN AMBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luminous Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to luminous attachments for indicating to a person entering a dark room the position of a lighting switch or other device. My object is to provide a convenient, sightly device of this character that can readily and safely be secured to existing devices-even when already installed-by persons entirely unacquainted with their construction, without necessity for taking them apart except to the extent of a mere momentary removal of a readily detachable cover, and without disturbing or touching any of the interior parts and mechanism. Various advantages obtainable in connection with my invention will appear from the description hereinafter of the best embodiments at present known to me, while its scope will be indicated in my claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows an attachment embodying my lnvention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views (partly in section) of a switch mounted on a wall or other support, illustrating the actual installation and use of my attachment.

Fig. i is a sectional view illustrating details of construction of the attachment.

The device of my present invention is intended for use with devices of the type comprising an exposed metal case or the like mounted, usually, on a suitable porcelain base-such as rotary snap switches for lighting circuits, etc. My attachment is intended to be mounted adjacent the switch casing, on the side thereof where it will be most readily visible and least liable to become injured. I provide for mounting the device by attachment to the switch casing rather than to the wall or other support to which the switch is attached.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device 5 comprises a metal disk or base 6 at the front of which is secured a self-luminous glower 7. For attaching this device to the switch 8 (see Figs. 2 and 3) it is provided with a metal finger 9 projecting forward from it in a plane substantially at right angles. This finger 9 is adapted to fit inside the switch cas ng or cover 10, between the metal of the casing and the usual insulating lining 11. In practice, the cover 10 is removed by unscrewing the switch handle 12, the finger 9 inserted at the desired point, and the cover then replaced and resecured. When this has been done, a portion 13 of the finger 9 bent over substantially at right angles will lie between theedge of the cover and a ledge or shoulder on the porcelain base at 14, and so the device 5 will be held firm and secure.

From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the disk 6 has on its front side an upstanding annular flange 15 that forms a shallow socket. In this socket is seated a hemispherical glass piece 16 with a peripheral shoulder or lip 17 a little thinner than the height of the flange 15. The glass piece 16 is secured by beading over the flange 15 on the shoulder 17 (see Fig. 1) as indicated at 19 in Fig. 4. This glass piece 16 acts as a protector and refractor for the luminous material 18,the two together constituting a glower that gives a steady glow (comparable to that of a firefly in quality) easily perceptible across an ordinary room. The self-luminous material may be of any suitable sort, and may be painted on one of the parts at the bottom of the socket,-preferably, perhaps, on the glass. The most satisfactory self-luminous materials at present on the market are those which owe their luminosity to radium (or mesothorium) and zinc sulfid: they may easily be made to give the glower a useful life for several years.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The combination of an electric switch having an insulating base, a metal cover provided with an insulating lining mounted on said base, an angular sheet metal bracket having one arm positioned between said cap and said lining and the other arm extending outwardly between the lower edge of said cap and the upper end of said base, and a self-luminous glower attached to the outer end of said bracket.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1918.

OTTO H. VAN AMBERG.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Patents, Washington, D. G. 

